Bury

The religious profile of Bury changed substantially in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and health.

The population reached nearly 190,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Bury increased by 2.5%, from just under 181,000 to 185,000.

The addition of just under 4,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bury was home to, on average, 13 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bury

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bury increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This urban area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 5,000.

About 15% of people in Bury are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bury by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Bury

The number of people in Bury that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 18,000 in 2001 to about 34,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 10% to 19% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Bury that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 130,000 in 2001 to about 120,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 63%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from about 6,800 to about 11,000 (from 3.7% to 6.1%).

Just over 11,000 people (6.7%) did not state their religion, down from about 12,000 in 2001 (6.0%).

The population without a religion in Bury increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Bury by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Bury

The percentage of Bury residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.0%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.4% in 2001. The percentage of Bury residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.3% to 6.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 89%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Bury at a faster rate than in Stockport (one of the most statistically similar areas to Bury based on ONS area classifications).

In Bury, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.7% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Stockport increased from 6.5% to 11%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Bury fell from 16% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 70%.

Private renting in Bury increased by 7.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bury, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Bury that were married decreased from 52% to 48% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Bury that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 50% in 2001 to 45% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 51% to 47%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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